Liquid fuel carburetor



Sept. 27, 1949. v G NEMNlCH 2,482,864

LIQUID FUEL CARBURETOR Filed Dec. 1, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 AUX/l- IAR Y 5 3 I 3 r I 5 l INVENTOR Patented Sept. 27, 1949 :LIQUID FUEL CARBURETOR Gustav Nemnich, Huntington Station, H.712, as- I signor of one-fourth to' Margaret Nein'nieh, one-fourth to Jonas Himmelfafim-anil onel fourth to Elizabeth Putt Himmelfarbe, all of Huntington Station, N. Y. w

Application December 1,1944, SerialTNo. 566,116 f sTAT Es My invention relates to liquid carburetor devices and'more particularly of the type ior'use' in internal combustion l engines. -One of the objects of this invention is to provide an apparahas of the above mentioned character which will be capable of high effic iency of operation. Another object is to provideanapp'aratus ofthe above mentioned 3 character in which variable speeds of an internal combustion engine maybe dependently achieved without sacrifice of economy of operation. Another object is toprovide a device of the above mentioneol.character in which the liquid fuclfis converted into a gas and super-charged into 'the po werplant inprope'r proportions depending upon the requirements of the engine. A further objec't is to provide an air control means which controls the air supply in measured amounts prior tothe opening ofthe intake valves-"in any oneyof the cylinders. Other objects will be in *part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, cornbinaitionbf" elements, arrangements of 'parts as willbe exemplified in the structure to be hereinaiterdescribed and the scope of theappl'icationof which will be indicated in the following claims;

In the accompanying drawings two of the variou possible embodiments are shown by the way of illustration, in'whi'ch Fig. 1 is a View inside elevation,'with certain-partsbroken away'of an internal combustion-engine withthe carburetor apparatus embodying the present invention; 7

Fig. '2 is" a iront end View with certain parts broken away of an air control mechanism shown inFig. .1. r F

Fig. 3 is an enlarged verticalsection view of my carburetor device embodying the invention.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of my carburetor device shownin Fig. 3.

5 is an enlarged sectional :view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3 showing the nozzle construction of my carburetor device; Y Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram "showing a heater and manual control diagrammatically.

Fig. 7 is an end viewsimilar to Fig. 2 embody-' ing a modified form of my invention;-

Referring to thedrawings, for a more'de'tailed description of the invention, in Fig. '1 of the drawings there is show-nan outline of an engine 141' having the'usual'intakeimanifold H to which is securedthe carburetor apparatus .12. Adjacentto the carburetor andconnected-thereto, as by means of a conduit or pipe.i3,.-is aibompressor orpump driven; by aloelt $5 from a crank- 11 .Claims (01. 123-131.)

shaft iecfjthe engine It: unit and connnnnicating therewith is an air reservoir lI-and-the'associated valve mechanism, generally indicated at zlfwhich will be more fully described hereinafter.

'Refe'rring'now to Fig. 3, the carburetor 12 comprises a body or casing-2i provided with the usualflange 22 for securing'same to the intake mam-- iold il referred toabove. 'Thelower end of the casing 21 has attached; thereto, as' 'by" means of screws; not shown, the carburetor unit, gener-- ally indicated at 2$;{a1rd is provided with the usual float chamber- 24 "for controlling the flow of fuel from thesupply i i-pe-iine 25 by means of the conventional needle valve 26 which is controlled by the usual floatil actuating the needle valve by well known means, not shown. The fuel is thus held at the primer operating level. r commnnicating'with the float chamber 24 is a passage 30 which feeds the fuel to-a hollow n'eedleor iuel nozzleil, hereinafter referred to as-a iuelnozale, The passage is provided with a ball check valve generally indicated at 32 to preventthe-mturn ofiul toiihe float chamber 24.

a The fuel nozzle 3| takes the form of a tube for the passage of fuel and is vertically and centrally disposed in the lowermost part of the cylindrical body iii 'The lowerendof the-tube forming the 'fuel nozzle is tea threaded shank 33 and the upper-tapered end is provided with a series of holes- 34, zltlot-necessarily limited to three in: numberias :shmvn more. 5.: fue'l nozzle is further provided, intermediate of-its'ends, with a flexible connection 35 the-inner-end of which is connected at, and communicating with the passage in the ma nozzle; The outer end of the flexible connection; 35 is brazecl or otherwise secured within the passage 30, in the casting '31. This provides a flexible connection for the fuel nozzle for reasons ito'he pointed out hereinafter. located just above-the flexible connection and surrounding nozzle 31 is a heating element :36. This heatingelement is received in a bore'fl'inan air cone ll which'is threaded into the casting T11. The nope-rend ofthe air cone is counterbored to provide a'rseat 42 for-the fuel nozzle. The seatis complementary to the tapered and of itheiuelnozzle'and co-acting therewith tonormally chase all vholes 34, except hole 43, which is provided a cut-away'portion 44, asshown in Fig.5 Thiscficcitively allows fuel to pass from within the "fuel nozzle to the mixingchamber 345, iormed'by the above mentioned cylindricalbody :13," thus enabling the engine 10 to idle when theiuel uozzlc'isiully seated-against Integral with the pump cap 46 at its apex is provided with a cylindrical bore 53 which, surrounding the fuel nozzle, forms an annular mixing chamber, and an effective one, because of the change of the direction the compressed air must take, and the turbulent motion of the compressed air, is given, by the spiral passages 50.

Both the fuel and the compressed air are heated to desired temperatures by the properly designed heating element 38, and associated parts,

thus, as the liquid fuel passes throughv the fuel nozzle, and at a point substantially above the heating element, the fuel istransformed into vapor. This vaporized fuehupon further mixing with the preheated compressedair, constitutes a fuel highly superior to those produced by methods now in common use. 1

The foregoing treatment of the fuel therefore, in light of this development, presents a vapor fuel of very desirable characteristics.

Upon being transformed intoheat energy in the combustion chamber of-an internal combustion motor complete combustion is attained regardless of the R. P. M. of theengine.

To regulate the R. R.-.l VI-.;o f the engine. above the idling speed, the fuel nozzle 3| is arranged to turn on its vertical axis, and for this purpose an internally packed gland nut 54 is provided through which passes the threaded shank 33 cooperating with internal threads of the gland nut 54. Secured to the lower and-projected end of the shank 33 is an arm 55 whose forked end is secured to a rod 56, the, other end of which is connected to the usual foot accelerator, not shown. Thus it will be seen, that upon the respective movements of the arm 55 the fuel nozzle is caused to operate up and down in a semi-spiral motion in accordance to the pitch of the threads on the shank 33. Theflexible connection 35 allows for both the axial rotation of the fuel nozzle and also the movement in the vertical'plane thereof, without impairing the flow of fuel to the fuel nozzle. A tension spring 51 is used'to return the arm '55 to the original or idling position diagrammatically shown in Fig. 6.

An extension 58,- diametrically opposed to the arm 55, is provided with .a spring pressed contact 60 which contacts turns orwindings 6| of a resistance unit mountedsecurely on the casting 31. The purpose of the variable resistance is to control the heat created in the heating element 38 in order to adapt it to the fuel requirement of the internal combustion engine II]. For example: when the engine is idling. the .vaporized fuel requirement is low,therefore, the maximum resistance in the-circuit is necessary, to control the amount'of heat imparted to the liquid fuel, and. thereby control the heat of vaporization, as required by the engine. This position of the extension 58 for the minimum vapor requirement, is shown in Fig. 6. Now, as the arm 55 is turned in the direction of the arrow the flow of vapor is increased through the unseating of the fuel nozzle which brings the auxiliary holes 34 into operation, as best shown in Fig. 5. At the same timeas the number of turns in the resistance are out the temperature in the heating element is raised to a 7 v It will be understood that point where the increased heat of vaporization is commensurate with the requirements of the increase in the fuel.

The design of the fuel nozzle 3| may be so proportioned, with respect to the air pressure and pipe l3, as well as the spiral air passages 50, conical chamber 52 and cylindrical chamber 53, that an operative proportion of air and vapor is accomplished under varying operating conditions, the most efficient proportion being produced at the normal usual speed of the engine. It may be remarked that the engine may be a stationary one where the proportion'may be regulated once only and practically. permanently. It also is to be noted that the regulating valve may be inserted intothe compressed air line I3, and the same may be connected with the fuel control means, as it is well known in this art, whereby an increase or a reduction. in the fuel fed will cause an increase or a reduction in the quantity of air introduced into my device. This regulating valve has been omitted from th drawings for the sake of clear-. ness, and also becauseit is ausual well known device in this art. There may be temporary phases in the operation of the engine when secondary air may be needed. For such exceptional condition, an auxiliary air valve, generally indicated'at 62, see Fig. 3, isprovided, which takes the form of an inverted cup.63. Itoperates in a cylindrical extension integral with, and'communia eating, as by means of an'air passage, with the mixing chamber 45. Extending up from the valve cup 63 and secured thereto is a shank B5 projecting through an adjustablebushing 66 threaded into a closure cap 61. This bushing limits the upward travel of the valve, which in the closed idling position, shown in Fig. 3, cuts off the auxiliary air supply passage 58. A spring 10 surrounding the shank 65 is adjustable, as by means of nuts threaded on the'shank, and serves to adjust the pressure which retains the valve against, the above mentioned bushing 66. Thus the secondary air which may be preheated before entering the carburetor is closed off by the valve 63 until under certain operating conditions the air within the mixing chamber 45 drops below atmospheric pressure in which case the valve 63 moves down and opens the passage 68,.by the aperture 63a.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, the pump unit l4, and the air reservoir l1, including the associated valve mechanism generally indicated at 20, will now be described. I

In order to have a supplyof air under pressure for use inthe carburetor I2 an air reservoir I1 is provided, which receives air from a compressor M. An adjustable relief. valve H is located at the top of the reservoir and when set, a predetermined air pressure is obtained. The reservoir is further provided with a poppet valve 12 which controls the amount of compressed air to be used in the carburetor. The poppet valve is opened by a rocker arm 13, the inner end of the arm carrying a cam roller 14. Four cam lobes 15 mounted for rotation on the conventional engine cam shaft 16 actuate the rocker arm. Thus it will be seen that the cam shaft 16 will rotate once for two revolutions of the engine crankshaft l6, and opens the poppet valve 12 four .times during its revolution, that is, once for each suction stroke of a four cylinder, four strokecycle engine. For engines havingmore or less cylinders, the number of cam. lobes 15 will be increased or.reduced according to the case. I

the engineis not limited to four-minder engiues lmt also to any inult'i-cyiinder type, of their firing order, and also incindcs -two stroke cycle engine. g V 1 Referring to the "mcfliilc'a in Fi d an electrical means is for aotivating the poppet valve |2.' This takes the-form of a commutatcr 80 secured to the cam shait 16 and rotated therewith. equidistant apart and from the other; Contact li'lro-operateswitli a contact arm 82 rJ'ii'rota-lly mounted on an adjustable bracket 83. A collector ring 84 co-acts with a contact 'hr'ush '85 which in turn is wired elec trica-lly toa solenoid 86. Tho-other end of iihe circuit is grounded to the bracket 8% and thence to the contact arm 32. A'ba'ttery 81 the energy ire actuate "the solenoid 86.;A wrecker arm 18 operates poppet valve 12, as in the 'firstemoodiment;

; The operation of the poppet valve is simil'ar'ia'o that shown in 2 and the contacts B l, in number, correspond to the four cam 'lobesis in the 'above'm'enti-oned Thus one revolution of the mmutator 80 will send four impulses ithrough che 86 energizing same which through the rocker arm 13 opens the poppet vailve 12. ii spring 88 returns the poppet valve to its sea-t ciosing the airsupply to the engine-when the solenoid is dc-energized.

The-cycleof operation is some for this modified form as or the form previously described. Howeverit differs respect to adjustmentof the contact am Al which is by athreadedsh ank an. easement can as achieved to retardcr advance opening and closing of the hopper, valve.

' It will be seen from henelnspecificaition I reserve my ri ghtsito such changes, variations anduses, as are within the spirit of uhlsspecificatier-1 and the scope of the claims "hereunto appended. i also may ofier the following remarks a It may be noted that in the drawings "the-pump and 'th compressed air reservoir 11 are shown as being relatively smali compared to the engine to whiiihthey are attached. However, I do not want 'to' I understood that such proportion is the one used in the actuai practice of my inventionlwThef drawing ison ly a diagram and has been madewitihawiew of clarity or showing. 'i'hose'yeisedinthis ant,iif they desire to practice this invention, wiil be-able to -make the pump and the compressed air reservoir of such size, de-

' livery, capacity, and pressure, as will be required connection with' che drawings, provided a, device of the character in view, in which the intake of a liquid fuel into a commistion device, and particularly into an interned comiaustion engi-ne,' is greatly improved over flue methods-nowin use. The liquid fuel losing ear-posed through a needle valve or the iiice, to a stream of pressed air, will he provided with means for more perfect combustion not lrnown or ioef'ore, and particularly will combosti oh iaeeffeoted in view of the perfect mixing-due to the whirling turbulent motion imparted to'the compressed air.

These factors, obviously; also Wiliaid in the vaporization'of the fuel. a I

The blowing or the compressed an entirely 'timed to the work cycle-of engine, and the mixture may also he sore-prepared, a reserve amount of it may beready for the intake of the engine, another factor immore'ehieient operation.

I provide a minimum "ammm'tof feeding T fuel even the motor is idiing, iifwl l ioh case at present the combustion is very while with my device, uwm receive ample oxygen and the engine will run with the least consumption of fuel and with more heri'ectcomhus tion,

I also provide heating means do: the liquid fuel preliminaryto the blowing mixing, and vaporizing ofi t, another for more perfect operation, and also'qrrosiide simple regulation of the amountnf fuel fed, and p'mvid'e means to simultaneously and M "ally adjust the heating in the amountnhthc-fuel.

, While I have shown grr'ei'erred embodiments of my inveniiion, it and that and variations may be resorted 'ito in the no merits, construction or at .75 holi-ow'member surroundingsard end of ihe valve by the engine in vi-cw. itais'o will be understood. that more lthan zone pump cylinder 'maybe operated ioy'the' engine feeding it to tone suilicientlyiamgemeservoir 1!?! or possibly even each into a s eparate reservoir, 'which'then may jointly feed inito uhezcompressed air line 13. V

a What I claim as new and want to protect by Letters iPatentof the United :States, is: a 1. In a liquid fuel carburetor, a needle valve, having a bore connected with a source of liquid fuel, said :Joore having communicating openings for the exit of the fuel at the end of the valve, ahollowmember surrounding said end of the vaive, means todeed a compressed oxidizing medium pressuradike air, through said hollow "member, whereby said medium 'will carry and vaporize the passing sthrough said exit openindand willzloe thoroughly mixed with it,

\ said device feeding the ready fuel mixture into the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, means to normally 'Blose'the :communica-' tion between-iiheusource of said compressed oxidizingHflui-dpmedium and device, and means actuatedby an element. of said engine to intermittently permit the massing of said com pressed fluid-medium through said device, in accordance withsthe operation of the engine.

a 2. I a, liquid fuel carburetor, a needle valve, having a bore-connected with a source of liquid fuel, said bore having communicating openings for it-he exit :of thefuel at the end of the valve, a. hollow member surroundingsaid end of the valve, means to feed a compressed oxidizing medium under pressure, likeair, through said hollow member, whereby said medium will carry and vaporize, the fuel passing throughsaid exit openings and will-be thoroughly mixed with it, said device feeding the ready fuel mixture into the intake manifold of, an internal combustion engine, means to normaily close the communica tion between the sourcev of ,saidcompressed oxidizing fluid 'medium and said device amd means actuated by-an element oi said engine it!) intermittently permit the passing of said compressed fluid medium through ;said-device, 'in ac: cordaiice with the openaition-nf the engine, said element oithe engine being a :shaft therein, and said means to intermittently access of the compressed fluid medium to the device includin a cam operated by said shaift, a valve normally closing, the conduit between the source of the compressed fluid and the device, and a lever adapted to open said valve-at desired phases of the cam operation I i Ina iiquid fuel carburetor, :a needle valve, having a :bore-aconnected'wilzh a source of liquid .aborevhavirrg communicating openings fim-iithe exit of uheafuel "at theiend-bfithewalvea means'to'feed a compressed oxidizing medium under pressure, like air, through said hollow member, whereby said medium will carry and vaporize the fuel passing through said exit openings and will be thoroughly mixed with it, said device feeding the ready fuel mixture to an internal combustion engine, means to normally close the communication between the source of said compressed oxidizing fluid medium and-said device, electrical means to open said conduit at desired intervals in accordance with the operation of the engine, and a'rotating intermittent switch device on said engine to close the electric circuit for the electrical device at said desired intervals. j a

4; In a liquid fuel converter device, a needle valve, having a bore connected with a source of liquid fuel, said bore having communicating openings for the exit of the fuel at the end of the valve, a hollow member surrounding said end of the valve, means to feed a compressed oxidizing medium under pressure, like air, through said hollow member and over said openings, whereby said medium will carry and vaporize the fuel passing through said exit openings, and will be thoroughly mixed with it, said device feeding the ready fuel mixture into the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, means to normally close the communication between the source of said compressed oxidizing fluid medium and said device, and means actuated by an element of said engine to intermittently permit the passing of said compressed fluid medium through. said device, in accordance with the operation of the engine.

5. In a liquid fuel converter device, a needle valve, having a bore connected with a source of liquid fuel, said bore having communicating openings for the exit of the fuel at the endof the valve, a hollow member surrounding said end' of the valve, means to feed a compressed oxidiz ing medium under pressure, like air, through said hollow member and over said openings, whereby said medium will carry and vaporize the fuel passing through said exit openings, and will be thoroughly mixed with it, said device feeding the'ready fuel mixture into the intak manifold of an internal combustion engine, means to normally close the communication between the sourceof said compressed oxidizing fluid medium and said device, and means actuated by an ele- I ment of said engine to intermittently permitthe passing of said compressed fluid medium through said device, in accordance with the operation'of the engine, said element of the engine being a shaft therein, and said means to intermittently permit access. of the compressed fluid medium to the device including a cam operated by said shaft, a valve normally closing the conduit between the source of the compressed fluid and the device, and a lever adapted to open said valve at desired phases of the cam operation.

6. In a'liquid fuel converter device, a needle valve, having a, bore connected with a source of liquid fuel, said bore having communicating openings for the exit of the fuel at the end of the valve, a hollow member surrounding said end of the valve, means to feed a compressed oxidizing medium under pressure, like air, through said hollow member and over said openings, whereby said medium will carry and vaporize the fuel passing through said exit openings, and will be.

thoroughly mixed with it, said device feeding the ready fuel mixture to an internal combustion engine, means to normally close the communication-zjbetween the source ofqsaid compre sed oxidizingfluid medium. and said device, electrical means-to open said-conduit, at desired intervals in accordance with the operation of the engine, and a rotating intermittent switch device on said engine to close the electric circuit for the electrical device atsaid desired intervals.

-7. In a device, as setforth in claim 4, said compressed fluid; medium being fed before the suction stroke of theengine, whereby the mixture will be ready in said intake manifold at the, start of the suction stroke in any of ,the cylinders of the engine. g.

8. In a. liquidfuel converter device, a needle valve, having a bore connected with a source of liquid fuel, said bore having communicating openings for theexit of the fuel at the end of the valve, a hollow member surrounding said endof the valve, means to feed acompressed oxidizing medium under pressure, like air, through said hollow member: and over said openings, whereby said mediuinwill. carry and vaporize the fuel passingthrough said exit openings, and will be thoroughly mixed with it, sai device feeding the ready fuel mixture into the intake manifold of an, internal combustion engine, means to normally close the communication between the source of said compressed oxidizing fluid medium and said device, and means actuated by an element of said engine to intermittently. permit the passing ofsaid compressed fluid medium through said device, in, accordance with the operation of the engine, said element of the engine being a shaft therein, and said means to intermittently permit access of'the compressed fluid medium to the device including a valvenormally closing the conduit between the source of the compressed fluid and the device, and i means between said shaft, and said-valve adapted to open said valve whendesired, I V n 9. In a liquidfuel converter device, aneedle valve, having a, bore connected with a source of liquid fuel, said borehaving communicating openings for the exit of the fuel at the end of the valve, a hollow member surrounding said end of the valve, means to feed a compressed oxidizing medium under pressurelike air, through said hollow member and over said openings, whereby saidmedium will carry and vaporizethe fuel passing through-said exit openings, and will be thoroughly mixed with it, said device feeding the ready fuel mixture to an internal combustion engine, means to normally close the communication between the sourceof said compressed oxidizin fluid medium and said device, electrical means to open said. conduit at desired intervals in accordance with the operation of the engine, and a switch device on said engine to operate said electrical means at said desired intervals.

.10., In a liquid fuel converter device, meansto feedliquid fuelto the same, means to feed compressed oxidizing medium under pressure, like air, through said, device whereby said-medium will carry and vaporize the fuel fed to the device and will be thoroughly mixed with it, said device feeding the ready fuel mixture into the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, means to normally close.thecommunication between the source of said compressed oxidizing fluid medium and said device, and means actuated by an element of said engine to, intermittently permit the passingfof said .compressed fluid medium through said device, inxaccordance with the operation of the engine. I r

11.;In, combination, with an internal combustion engine, having an intake manifold, of a fuel mixture preparing and feeding device, comprising a source of oxidizing gaseous medium compressed under pressure, a fuel feeding element, a fuel carburetor, means to blow said oxidizing medium under pressure through said carburetor in suflicient quantity for the total requirements of fuel mixture for operating the engine, and means in said carburetor to cause the fuel to be atomized by and mixed with said medium, and a connection from said carburetor to the manifold. of the engine, whereby sufiicient fuel mixture will be produced and introduced into the manifold before and independently of the suction stroke of the engine, means to intermittently stop and start the blowing of said oxidizing medium, said means being controlled by an element in the engine in accordance with its operation, said controlling means in the engine for intermittent operation of the oxidizing medium being electrical.

GUSTAV NEMNICH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Dean Dec. 1, 1903 Lee Nov. 10, 1908 Turnbull, Jr May 31, 1910 Jordan May 5, 1914 Carrel Oct. 19, 1915 Higgins, Jr Oct. 30, 1917 Lombard Aug. 19, 1921 Plush Oct. 25, 1921 DuPont Jan. 10, 1922 Lovejoy July 3, 1923 Smith Oct. 28, 1924 Hebert Jan. 12, 1926 Thomas Dec. 14, 1926 Portail Apr. 1, 1930 Mullen, Jr July 14, 1931 Ross July 26, 1932 Whiteman Apr. 18, 1933 Paasche Aug. 9, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Aug. 19, 1920 

